CSAEW Sec/Treas John Doherty Discusses the Power of the CSAEW and Collective Action 

John Doherty, Business Manager of IBEW Local 6 in San Francisco for the past decade, has been an active member of the California State Association of Electrical Workers (CSAEW) since 2008. He joined the group’s Executive Board in 2014 and is currently the Association’s Secretary-Treasurer. 

An electrician and IBEW member for the past 26 years, Doherty was born and raised in San Francisco, a proud first generation Irish-American. Prior to becoming Business Manager, he served Local 6 as a Business Rep, then President. Doherty shared his thoughts on the CSAEW’s role, how the organization helps electricians across the state and why he continues to be involved. 

What does the CSAEW do?  

The CSAEW is a statewide organization founded over 80 years ago to advocate at the statewide level for the interests of electrical workers across the spectrum: from inside wiremen to utility workers and sound and communication to shop workers and more. 

Can you give us some examples of what the Association does? 

We meet every month to discuss legislation that might affect us. Then, twice a year we go to Sacramento to lobby and talk to our elected officials about various bills they are considering. Depending on the legislation, we take a pro or con position, or seek amendments to help create more work and safe conditions for our members.  

During the last two legislative sessions, we’ve had to fight off attacks on our utility workers and our contracts with privately owned or investor-owned utilities like PG&E and Southern California Edison. We’ve also had to fight off efforts to bypass our workers’ voices when it came to building new housing. There was proposed legislation to grant developers the right to build without adequately addressing the environmental impact, the impact on the local economy, and that prevailing wages and skilled and trained standards were applied. When it comes to training a safe and qualified electrical workforce, that’s a job only the IBEW can do. 

How did being part of the Association help on those issues? 

Working together as an association showed that we had strength in numbers. It showed the breadth of the IBEW, and that we’re part of every community around the state. We represent members in every representative district in the state.  

When we’re meeting with our elected officials to advocate for our positions, it gives us the opportunity to also educate them about all the community and job training outreach we do – including organizing underrepresented communities into good paying jobs in the IBEW, helping the previously incarcerated get into the workforce and become productive members of society, and our efforts to recruit and retain women into the trades. We also let them know about our quality apprenticeship training programs and that we actively recruit veterans and have programs specifically designed to help them transition out of the service. 

How is this more effective than having each local do its own thing? 

It’s definitely a case of stronger together. There are a few of our larger locals that have the ability and resources to be able to work with their local legislators. But by pooling our resources and working together across the state, we make sure that all of our electeds see that our positions are part of a coordinated California-wide effort. We represent 83,000 electrical workers across the state, and that carries a lot of weight. The size of our organization, and the fact that we represent folks around the state, gives our voice power and meaning. 

As a leader, how do you make sure everyone’s interests are heard? 

The Executive Board meets regularly. And we also have regular business managers meetings. That’s where we make sure that we’re all on the same page on various pieces of legislation. If there’s disagreement in the ranks, we explore the issues, so we can come to consensus and not be flip-flopping on our positions. We adjust our positions based on leadership’s input. 

Sometimes there’s a hot-button issue in Southern California that we’ve already dealt with up here in Northern California or vice versa. So we can share those strategies that worked for us. But as a rule, we try to sort out our issues and differences among ourselves before we take our issues public. 

Not only do we coordinate among the business managers, region by region and then statewide, but we also work with the international office staff to make sure that everybody’s aware of what’s working, what’s not working, and what’s coming down the pipeline behind the scenes. 

It’s not a one-size-fits-all-all, and it’s not a one-way street. If one group is not necessarily 100% happy, but they see the benefit to the rest of the group, then we find a way to make sure we can capitalize on an issue and reach agreement. 

Why is it important to you to be involved in the Association? 

Being the Secretary/Treasurer of the CSAEW is an important role. I have a voice to help decide the direction of the organization. I also have the experience and ability to help my fellow IBEW members by serving as an officer in the CSAEW. It’s an honor to represent members of the IBEW, whether at a local level or on a statewide level. I take that honor seriously.